Laura Ajala (right) from Campinas, Brazil, was one of the students selected to participate in the 2022 PONTES program. She joined a research team led by Nusrat Jung (left), assistant professor of civil engineering.

SURF and PONTES programs offer immersive opportunities

The Lyles School of Civil Engineering’s commitment to educate and prepare undergraduates — both on campus and around the world — helps to extend giant leaps far beyond what is taught in the classroom.

Since its inception, Purdue civil engineering faculty and staff have participated in the College of Engineering’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. The program provides an action-oriented research experience for undergraduate students to stimulate their interest in advanced education and research careers.

Selected students engage in research projects over the summer. SURF matches undergraduate fellows with a faculty member and graduate student mentor who work together to solve problems in science, engineering and technology. This competitive fellowship is a paid, 10-week, immersive summer research experience guided by the faculty and graduate student mentors.

In addition to research activities, students also participate in weekly professional development workshops. The program culminates with a student research symposium where all fellows present a technical poster or an oral talk.

As a SURF program participant, civil engineering undergraduate Brian Magnuson assisted Brandon Boor, associate professor, with his indoor air quality research. Magnuson said the experience and knowledge he gained over the summer increased his understanding far more than anything else he had experienced before the program.

“To actually see what I’ve studied put into action and see how researchers conduct their work is something that will stick with me forever,” Magnuson said. “My experience with the SURF program was incredible.”

Magnuson continued to assist Boor’s research into the 2022-23 academic year.

As a SURF program participant, Brian Magnuson worked with Brandon Boor, associate professor of civil engineering, to design and build a full-scale environmental chamber to conduct dust transfer experiments.

PONTES Program

In addition to seeking undergraduates on campus to assist in research, Purdue University — and the Lyles School of Civil Engineering — participate in the PONTES program. This program invites qualified undergraduate-level students from Brazil who have been preselected by their respective universities to compete for a research opportunity on Purdue’s campus.

Those selected for the PONTES program receive up to $6,000 to aid in housing and travel expenses. Interested students went through a selection process after they submitted a transcript, an abstract of their proposed research project/idea and a letter of recommendation.

Laura Ajala from Campinas, Brazil, was one of the selected students in 2022. She joined a research team led by Nusrat Jung, assistant professor of civil engineering, to study experimental evaluations of changes in HVAC filter performance in buildings.

“It was a very challenging experience for me, but I am so glad I did it,” Ajala said. “To come overseas and take part in new research and even develop new equipment to run tests were things I never had done before. Until I came here, everything I learned was in class and was theoretical. So, to see what civil engineers really do and what their work means was an amazing experience.”

Jung said Ajala was an invaluable member of the team and encourages more faculty to participate in programs like SURF and PONTES.

“One of the best things about Purdue is just how many opportunities it offers to undergraduate students,” Jung said. “Not only is it a great opportunity for students, but it is a tremendous resource for faculty researchers. These students are knowledgeable and capable and can become invaluable assets to any team. I strongly encourage faculty to participate.”